Forty Under 40: Trent Ragar

Trent Ragar was 23 when he started Scotts Lawn Service with a truck and a dream.

He owned the business for 11 years, and revenue rose to $4 million before he sold it in October 2016. The day after, the Hope native started Natural State Pest Control, and revenue rose more than 75% to $1.25 million in 2018. He expects revenue to rise to $1.8 million in 2019 and described the company as “the Chick-fil-A of pest control,” alluding to strong customer service.

Ragar also owns Christmas Decor of Northwest Arkansas, a company he started in 2007. The revenue between his two businesses combined is expected to be $2.2 million in 2019.

The pest control business has a five-year goal to reach $3 million in revenue. After that, Ragar said he looks to expand the business footprint to outside of Northwest Arkansas and the Fort Smith area, possibly growing into Central Arkansas.

When he sold his lawn service business in 2016, he said it was the most exciting and saddest day. It also was the day he received the most significant check he’s ever seen. He has primarily reinvested that money into his pest control company, which has 16 employees. The company is the largest certified independent Sentricon System installer in Arkansas and the fifth largest in North Texas and Arkansas. Sentricon termite baits are more effective and safer compared to the traditional treatment of spraying baseboards with chemicals, Ragar said.

Ragar supports Project RED Friday, Feed My Starving Children and the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation. His Christmas light business, which has about 230 customers in Northwest Arkansas, decorates a military veteran’s home for free annually. The pest control business provides free treatments for multiple nonprofits. He’s a Razorback fan and enjoys exercising and reading.